Rapids expand youth system to include boy and girls of all ages

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Tuesday, July 10, 2012) – The Colorado Rapids and Colorado Fusion Soccer Club have joined forces to form an expanded Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club, which will provide competitive and developmental teams for boys and girls of all ages and all ability levels. The comprehensive Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club will continue to teach the sport to children throughout the area, offering opportunities for young players of all ages, experience, backgrounds and talent levels.

“We’re thrilled to join with Fusion to create the most comprehensive youth soccer organization in the state of Colorado,” said Colorado Rapids Youth Academy Director Brian Crookham. “Our program will continue to offer boys and girls of all abilities a safe and encouraging place to develop their passion and talent in the sport of soccer.”

“By joining with the Colorado Rapids, we’re offering our many players and families the chance to be affiliated with a professional soccer organization while remaining true to our mission and goals,” said Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club Executive Director Jon Goldin Dubois, who held the same role with Colorado Fusion. “By combining our efforts, we will be able to offer the best youth soccer programming in the state for kids at every level, the most complete player development path and the most comprehensive programs for training and retaining the best youth coaching staff. We are very excited to be able to expand our offerings to the Denver metro area community.”

The expanded Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club will now include all current Colorado Fusion teams all operating under the same structure and coaching staff. The developmental opportunities begin with camps, clinics, programs and leagues for players as young as three years old, with developmental and competitive opportunities expanding as players grow older. The union will provide a greater presence in communities throughout the Denver metro area, giving opportunities to many children who might otherwise not have the chance to play organized soccer.

The structure for competitive players at the top of the Rapids system remains for both boys and girls. The player development path includes opportunities in Rapids Academy teams, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy at the U16 and U18 levels, the Rapids Reserve Team all the way to the Colorado Rapids first team playing in Major League Soccer. On the women’s side, the competitive structure’s highest levels begin with the Rapids Academy teams, the Colorado Rapids U-20 Super-Y league team up to the Colorado Rapids Women of the W-League (playing at the highest level of women’s soccer in the U.S).

More information on the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club is available by contacting the Rapids Youth Academy at 303-727-3575 or the Fusion offices at 303-399-5858.